Gout Flashcards
Gout
Characterized by acute attacks of joint inflammation, resulting from deposition of urate crystals in the joint or other tissues.
Pathogenesis of gout
Crystalization of urate in the synovial fluid and joint tissue. Crystal-induced inflammatory response. PMNs phagocytize crystals. Release of kinins and lysosomal enzymes. Tophi
Tophi
uric acid crystal deposits, usually on joint tendons and skin
Hyperuricemia
Serum urate > 7 in men and > 5.7 in women
Serum uric acid may fall during acute gouty attack
Epidemiology of gout
US: males more than females. Estrogen promotes uric acid renal excretion, female gout is typically post-menopausal.
Prevalence increases with age, probably due to decreased renal function.
Age >40, alcohol intake, renal insufficiency.
Drug therapy for HTN, CHF, renal insufficiency (diruetics, low dose ASA)
Gout rises due to metabolic syndromes (obesity)
Enzyme defects (HGPRT-ase deficiency, increased PRPP synthetase activity)
Diagnosing
Joint aspirate (urate crystals in joint fluid) Biopsied tophus (contains urate crystals) Clinical diagnosis based on criteria
Clinical presentation
Go to bed feeling well, wake up due to pain, pain becomes severe, cannot tolerate touch, often unable to carry out ADL or sleep due to pain.
Clinical diagnosis (6 out of 12)
More than 1 attack of acute arthritis Maximal inflammation within 1 day Monoarticular Joint redness 1st metatarsophalangeal joint painful or swollen Unilateral attack Suspected tophus Hyperuricemia Asymmetric swelling within joint on xray Subcortical cysts without erosions on xray Negative culture of joint fluid
Extrarenal excretion of uric acid
100 mg/day eliminated via GI tract through secretions. Degraded by bacteria. GI excretion can greatly increase in renal failure.
PRPP-synthetase
PRPP-synthetase is backbone for production of purines, will produce more uric acid
HGPRT-ase
We recycle purines within the body, if we have a deficiency of HGPRT-ase, will not be able to recycle and will be eliminated into hypoxanthine which can be further metabolized into uric acid (through xanthine oxidase). Allopurinal and Febuxostat block xanthine oxidase.
Body is very good at recycling purines released with cell death instead of creating uric acid.
Acute gout attack management
Treat with NSAIDs, corticosteroids, or colchicine. May need to use more than one agent for severe pain or multiple joints.
Ice for inflammation
Maybe opiods
Colchicine
Effective, but may be more toxic than NSAIDs or corticosteroids
Indomethacin
NSAID, 50 mg TID/QID for 2-3 days, taper off.
Naproxen
NSAID. 750 mg load dose, 500 mg BID, taper.